Laissez-faire was a political as well as an economic doctrine. The pervading theory of the 19th century was that individuals, pursuing their own desired ends, would thereby achieve the best results for the society of which they were part. The function of the state was to maintain order and security and to avoid interference with the initiative of individuals in pursuit of their own desired goals. But laissez-faire advocates nonetheless argued that government had an essential role in enforcing contracts as well as ensuring civil order.